Review: 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute
Posted by CapnRex101,
40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute was designed to recognise International Women's Day last year and 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute celebrates this occasion too. This model features Jane Goodall, an esteemed ethologist known for researching chimpanzee behaviour.
The subject represents a substantial departure from 40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute, portraying a colourful jungle environment. Nevertheless, some matching features remain between both promotional sets, which should enhance their display value together, belonging to the burgeoning 'Tribute' series.
Summary
40530 Jane Goodall Tribute, 275 pieces.
While the qualifying purchase threshold is high, this tribute to Jane Goodall is enjoyable.
- Interesting subject
- Good display value
- Charming chimpanzees!
- Surprisingly basic design
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Minifigures depicting real people are fairly uncommon, so their presence in these promotional sets is interesting. Jane Goodall adheres to the pattern established during 2021, including an exclusive head which captures the ethologist's cheerful personality. The inevitable wrinkles are realistic and welcome too, since older minifigures remain scarcer than younger examples.
This sand green shirt is also new and looks good, befitting someone studying chimpanzees in their tropical habitat. The decoration here is unusually fine, particularly around the tiny buttons. That is certainly beneficial and I think Jane's white hair component suits this minifigure, among the available options.
The Completed Model
40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute received praise for its elaborate construction techniques, relative to its size. 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute lacks such complexity, but recreates the tropical setting with wonderful colour. The yellow, orange, red and bright green flowers on the base are superb and I love the vibrancy of the narrow stream, flanked by irregular dark tan and green terrain.
Exposed studs are distributed across the model, although two in particular are intended to place Jane Goodall. The minifigure looks superb here and the stickered plaque is also attractive, with decorative leaves at the corners. This plaque matches the example from 40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute, but the dark bluish grey elements underneath seem slightly odd.
The narrow border surrounding this vignette differs from the 2021 model, looking much better. Complete consistency would have been ideal, but I think that problem lies with the earlier set because this design is effective. The aforementioned stream makes brilliant use of trans-light blue and trans-clear tiles covering medium azure pieces underneath, creating a vivid contrast alongside the dark border.
Three trees are attached to this base, incorporating the same building methods but achieving realistic variation. The blending of green and bright green leaves is especially successful, with vines suspended beneath those leaves. However, there are many examples of more elaborate and authentic trees, so it seems perhaps disappointing that more advanced designs were not explored.
LEGO chimpanzees originally appeared with the Zookeeper Collectable Minifigure and these animals are delightful. This piece remains unaltered since 2011, including an adorable printed face and ears. Unfortunately, the fixed pose appears awkward though, since there are no bars for the chimpanzees to grip above their heads, as if swinging through the trees.
The vignette was evidently designed for display from the front because the reverse is relatively bland. The rocks and trees lack detail here, while layers become visible in the terrain. However, the subtle change in height improves the appearance of this model from the front, so I think this was a worthy compromise.
Overall
Promotional sets provide an excellent opportunity for LEGO to represent subjects that would never otherwise be explored. 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute undoubtedly exploits such potential and looks great, featuring bright colours which stand out on display. The design is rather simple, but captures ample detail between the flowers and idyllic stream.
Jane Goodall herself looks splendid in minifigure form as well, surpassing the previous Amelia Earhart minifigure in realism. The qualifying purchase threshold is believed to be £120, $120 or €120, which is fairly high, but the model is reasonably substantial. I am therefore pleased with this set, even though the 2021 equivalent was probably more appealing in most respects and consistency between them is somewhat lacking.
This set will be available with qualifying purchases from the 3rd of March.
151 likes
41 comments on this article
nice way to get chimps, but they need to lower the UK threshold limit. its terrible.
Would love to get this set but I'm not planning to spend such an amount on Lego any time soon.
I had the pleasure of attending a lecture of her about 25-30 years ago, she's a great pioneer and I am really excited that she got her own set!
yep already on the UK website at a £120 spend
I recommend LEGO designers to continue designing some other stuff, like cars, trains and buildings. Unless they spend quite a time for the search on Anthropology and primates of course. When I look at those chimpanzees, I can't imagine nothing but ooh ooh ooh sounds.
It’s odd that they didn’t design the trees with at least one or two places to swing from a branch or vine. That would’ve broken up the monotony of the three identical chimpanzee poses.
I hope we don’t get more ‘who is this woman in a swamp with monkeys’ comments like I saw yesterday. Obviously not everyone has heard of Jane Goodall and the amazing work she did, but at least educate yourself a little before writing ignorant comments on here.
Google is your friend :-)
By the way, to the person who made that particular comment yesterday (you know who you are) it’s not a swamp and those aren’t monkeys!
Charming vignette
@Givememorebricks said:
"I recommend LEGO designers to continue designing some other stuff, like cars, trains and buildings. Unless they spend quite a time for the search on Anthropology and primates of course. When I look at those chimpanzees, I can't imagine nothing but ooh ooh ooh sounds.
"
What
@CapnRex101:
No mention of the Hans Christian Anderson or Charles Dickens sets? The former looks like a prototypical Tribute set (minifig in the “wax seal”), and the latter appears to have established the packaging format for the Tribute series (image of the actual person in the “wax seal”, and set name consisting of “Person’s Name Tribute”). When you add those to the comparison, it looks like the bases are designed to fit the subject matter.
Charming chimps.
Although the spend threshold seems quite high, personally I value this set around £17. At 14% of spend threshold, this looks like a really good deal for anyone who can afford the spend.
However, I'm not sure it's desirable enough to push me to spend to get it.
@yodalego said:
"yep already on the UK website at a £120 spend "
It says it is available on the 3rd, which is disappointing when I ordered an above threshold gift for someone this morning!
I know it's chimps. But LEGO needs to bring back the old monkeys. Much cooler design and posability. Just paint them black and cut off the tail.
I am really excited for this one, I have to say.
Looks like the chimps are teaching Jane how to rub her stomach and pat her head at the same time.
@ThreeDogBuilder said:
"I know it's chimps. But LEGO needs to bring back the old monkeys. Much cooler design and posability. Just paint them black and cut off the tail."
Considering they just made the new monkey mold for the sets last year, I doubt they will bring back the old poseable monkeys. But those were fun.
Good review! For all the talk about the chimps and the model's base, I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion of the detailed terrain in the comments. The designer of this set did a lovely job using wedge plates, quarter-circle tiles, and the still relatively uncommon 4x4 plate with quarter-circle cutout to carve out the banks of the stream. And the varied tile colors and shapes create a wonderful impression of a bubbling brook.
The trees are also very nicely detailed, at least from the front. I agree that it might've been nice to see more horizontal bar pieces to represent branches or vines for the chimps could hang from, but wouldn't they be able to hang loosely from the thin parts of the 3x4 and 6x5 limb/leaf cluster pieces? I don't have any LEGO chimpanzees handy to test that out for myself.
All in all, I feel like even beyond its display value as a stand-alone set (and as a source of chimpanzees), it seems like this set could be a great parts pack for building your own jungle or forest scenes. Of course, only being available as a GWP for the time being makes that a little less practical since I doubt a lot of people will be going out of their way to get more than one.
@ThreeDogBuilder said:
"I know it's chimps. But LEGO needs to bring back the old monkeys. Much cooler design and posability. Just paint them black and cut off the tail."
Those would be much too large to be believable as a chimpanzee — when standing upright, they're nearly as tall as a full-grown minifigure! An articulated design like that could potentially still work for larger ape species like orangutans, but smaller single-piece ape and monkey molds definitely seem like a better fit for smaller apes and monkeys like bonobos, chimps, and macaques.
I know LEGO isn't technically selling this set, but it'd be nice if they were donating some amount to the Jane Goodall Institute rather than just exploiting/profiting off her good name.
@GeordiePaul said:
"I hope we don’t get more ‘who is this woman in a swamp with monkeys’ comments like I saw yesterday. Obviously not everyone has heard of Jane Goodall and the amazing work she did, but at least educate yourself a little before writing ignorant comments on here.
Google is your friend :-)
By the way, to the person who made that particular comment yesterday (you know who you are) it’s not a swamp and those aren’t monkeys!"
Having done a bit of research as you advise, and taking a closer look at the 2nd photo in the "Completed Model" section it seems that Jane Goodall is readying a shotgun.
This leads me to conclude the set can be placed in the 1970s during the Gombe Chimpanzee War, for which Goodall was present at that time.
And perhaps you're right, it is not a swamp (although given the vegetation, not an unreasonable assumption), but the Kakombe Stream. As there are two chimpanzees on one side of the stream they are likely members of victorious Kasakela Clan, the 3rd being part of the defeated Kahama Clan.
Goodall is presumably armed as a precaution of being caught in the fighting of the 2 Chimpanzee tribes.
Anyway, if it was a swamp, and we drained it, I'd bet we'd find a virtue signalling troll lurking in the murky depths.
Extraordinary woman, yet tribute so ordinary if not 'meh' at best.
I don't know who this is.
...
....yeah, haha, just kidding.
@Aanchir said:
"Good review! For all the talk about the chimps and the model's base, I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion of the detailed terrain in the comments. The designer of this set did a lovely job using wedge plates, quarter-circle tiles, and the still relatively uncommon 4x4 plate with quarter-circle cutout to carve out the banks of the stream. And the varied tile colors and shapes create a wonderful impression of a bubbling brook.
The trees are also very nicely detailed, at least from the front...."
Really? My first thought when I saw the set was that it looked like something thrown together in an afternoon. Not that I think it looks bad...just underwhelming to me.
@NatureBricks said:
" @Goujon said:
"nice way to get chimps, but they need to lower the UK threshold limit. its terrible."
It's "BELIEVED to be", LEGO probably hasn't told people what the Euro / America price points are yet."
Yes they have - it's on the website offers page for each region
All the clone monkeys do freak me out…
Can’t wait for them to make a Virginia Woolf Tribute set (cmon LEGO, it’s a perfect excuse for another lighthouse!)
[I actually desperately want a Virginia Woolf Tribute set. She’s my favourite author.]
@windjammer said:
" @GeordiePaul said:
"I hope we don’t get more ‘who is this woman in a swamp with monkeys’ comments like I saw yesterday. Obviously not everyone has heard of Jane Goodall and the amazing work she did, but at least educate yourself a little before writing ignorant comments on here.
Google is your friend :-)
By the way, to the person who made that particular comment yesterday (you know who you are) it’s not a swamp and those aren’t monkeys!"
Having done a bit of research as you advise, and taking a closer look at the 2nd photo in the "Completed Model" section it seems that Jane Goodall is readying a shotgun.
This leads me to conclude the set can be placed in the 1970s during the Gombe Chimpanzee War, for which Goodall was present at that time.
And perhaps you're right, it is not a swamp (although given the vegetation, not an unreasonable assumption), but the Kakombe Stream. As there are two chimpanzees on one side of the stream they are likely members of victorious Kasakela Clan, the 3rd being part of the defeated Kahama Clan.
Goodall is presumably armed as a precaution of being caught in the fighting of the 2 Chimpanzee tribes.
Anyway, if it was a swamp, and we drained it, I'd bet we'd find a virtue signalling troll lurking in the murky depths.
"
Wow....
So I just read quite an interesting Quota article on virtue signalling just to understand your post. I expected it to be quite a harsh, excellently pinpointed burn and was not disappointed. The interesting psychology lesson and on point analysis is just gravy.
I tip my hat to you sir!
@PisceanPet said:
" @yodalego said:
"yep already on the UK website at a £120 spend "
It says it is available on the 3rd, which is disappointing when I ordered an above threshold gift for someone this morning!
"It was being advertised on the strip at the top where it shows free delivery over £50, however you couldn't click on it and when you went to the sales page it said from the 3rd.
Then when I refreshed the page shortly after it had been removed.
Pretty poor form really but unsurprising really, it is LEGO after all.
I think the design is balanced. It's neither too basic nor too advanced. I could recreate these trees, minus the vines, in my own LEGO town and they'd look right at home (again, minus the vines). I love the exposed studs, there's a great balance between studded surfaces and smooth surfaces especially given the terrain. One way I might improve this is by adding a few, bigger flowers or multiple stems of flowers for some variety.
But yeah, the threshold is just disappointing. I could actually buy all the March sets I want right now and just barely meet it, actually. But I'm trying to hold out for a different GWP.
"Promotional sets provide an excellent opportunity for LEGO to represent subjects that would never otherwise be explored"
I don't see a reason to not sell these for $20 as a "Tribute" series. If BrickHeadz are selling, I'm sure these will as well. Don't see a reason to make it GWP exclusive.
For my fellow Aussies, from Lego customer chat "Currently there is no plans for the LEGO® 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute Promotional Set via LEGO.com AU."
Jade Goody's swamp monkeys on their way, along with a pair of Vespas, Chip & Dale, and the Spice Girls!
Excluding Australia and New Zealand on this set...
So fat lot of good that is for us in this region, Lego customer service response was "go look on Bricklink"
@chrisaw said:
"For my fellow Aussies, from Lego customer chat "Currently there is no plans for the LEGO® 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute Promotional Set via LEGO.com AU.""
Damn, nearly bought some Lego to get this set. Wallet says thanks.
@chrisaw:
@Yergs:
@Kynareth:
https://brickset.com/article/71244/jane-goodall-tribute-available-nowcomments
Scroll down a few posts and @chief7575 posted that it’s being reported you should see them by the 8th. From how screwy late launches go, and how it sounds like you guys are always getting short-stocked, I’d be checking as often as possible so you don’t miss out. I had to blow two vacation days to chase Coin 5 and Ulysses. I can’t imagine having to deal with that every time a choice GWP launches.
@PurpleDave said:
" @chrisaw:
@Yergs:
@Kynareth:
https://brickset.com/article/71244/jane-goodall-tribute-available-nowcomments
Scroll down a few posts and @chief7575 posted that it’s being reported you should see them by the 8th. From how screwy late launches go, and how it sounds like you guys are always getting short-stocked, I’d be checking as often as possible so you don’t miss out. I had to blow two vacation days to chase Coin 5 and Ulysses. I can’t imagine having to deal with that every time a choice GWP launches."
Thanks for that, interesting they would delay it anyway since they are not shipping from the warehouse in Sydney from the 3rd to the 14th, so we wouldn't notice a difference in the import delay due to the warehouse upgrade that will cease all normal work until they resume in "sequential" order on the 15th.
Either way, I have been holding off on orders for GWP sets of interest to me as I've spent too much over the last 2 years on Lego I need to be picky.
-- Below is direct from Lego AU website --
[Order delays due to operational upgrades] As we’re currently making some essential upgrades to our warehouse, orders placed from 3rd March to 14th March will be shipped sequentially from 15th March onwards. Once our warehouse improvements are complete, we’ll get your order to you as quickly as possible.
^^Oh, hey, never really thought about how the pound sign shows up in some Brickset URLs, and won’t show up if you put it in a Brickset comment.
@Yergs:
At this point, you guys might want to seriously consider trying to lasso some sea turtles and have them tow you somewhere off the coast of Portugal.
I'm a huge fan of Jane Goodall, and she's definitely one of the most iconic biologists of recent history. Definitely a fantastic choice efor a tribute set, and it looks really nice! Unfortunately I just don't think I've got $100+ if stuff I want to buy from Lego.com. Wish these could be sold independently, because I'd love a whole line of this kind of thing.
@rishi_eel:
Spend is advertised as $120 in the US. I had nearly $130 on reserve, plus I picked up two BAM 3-packs, so I don’t know if it’s actually $120.00, $199.99, or $199.00. Two things worth noting are that you can always sit on buying some sets for when this sort of thing comes up (just don’t wait too long, or they might retire on you), and that online PAB/B&P appear to be counting towards GWP thresholds, so you can also buy loose brick if you build MOCs (you can buy them even if you don’t, but they’ll be remarkably less useful if that’s the case).
@Givememorebricks said:
"I recommend LEGO designers to continue designing some other stuff, like cars, trains and buildings. Unless they spend quite a time for the search on Anthropology and primates of course. When I look at those chimpanzees, I can't imagine nothing but ooh ooh ooh sounds.
"
I think it's also a little disappointing that they chose not to do three different poses. I feel it cheapens the respect the set is supposed to show for the subject when they are too lazy or too cost conscious to maximize the uniqueness by using three different poses.
Very lazy design effort for a memorial piece. I think it's a little disappointing that they chose not to do three different poses for the chimpanzees. It feels to me like it cheapens the respect the set is supposed to show for the subject when they forgo the opportunity to maximize the uniqueness by using three different poses, either because they are too lazy or too cost conscious.
@TomM said:
"Very lazy design effort for a memorial piece. I think it's a little disappointing that they chose not to do three different poses for the chimpanzees. It feels to me like it cheapens the respect the set is supposed to show for the subject when they forgo the opportunity to maximize the uniqueness by using three different poses, either because they are too lazy or too cost conscious. "
I think it’s a bit much to expect them to design and create expensive new molds for two or three new parts specifically for a GWP set. Agreed it’d be nice if there were another chimp mold that weren’t such a distinct pose that stands out if you have lots of chimps all posed the same way, but I don’t think this free-for-a-limited-time set is the place to expect another chimp mold to debut.
I like the theme they are going with, if I do get one, I will add a few more animals and flowers